geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Moecat on Sat, 07 April 2012, 06:43:19
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Hello everyone, I'm an on and off again lurker whenever I get a funny urge to read about mechanical keyboards (but never actually buy one due to lack of money!). However recently I've come accross one for a fiver, literally sold by one of those places that just want to get rid of old keyboards.
But here's the thing, they suggested a £10 delivery charge for it. For a start is this reasonable? (I know it is compared to ebay anyway) And all in all is £15 a reasonable price to pay for the keyboard?
I'm going to ask for pictures however he described it to me as just being worn, he mentioned it had some stains. I'm not overly worried about this sort of thing, more so about scratches scuffs etc. It would be a nice project to try and restore it.
Now before I came across this I was looking at some moderatly cheap 2nd hand TVS Keyboards for roughly the same price (and a new black one for £35). I'd just like your opinion. As a newbie in this field with a low budget. What do you reccommend I get?
I mean this is a fantastic oppurtunity to try a model m, however if it's not for me is it going to be a £15 mistake?
Also do any companies apart sell buckling spring keycaps?
Cheers!
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Yes, the go for around 50gbp on ebay.
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You get what you pay for. The quality must be terrible. Stains, worn keycaps, stinks, you name it.
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Most model M's clean up perfectly. You won't get worn keycaps because they are pbt dye-subs. And any thing sticky/smelly can be cleaned.
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What you describe sounds like a good fair deal. Nothing to brag about, but perfectly reasonable. I have bought a dozen Ms, mostly on ebay for between $15-$50 shipped, and about 3 at second-hand stores, not working, for about $5 each.
If you think that spending an hour at the workbench and kitchen sink, taking things apart and tidying everything up sounds like "fun" then you should be satisfied with the project and result.
Triple the time and spend more money, and you can do a bolt mod later.
Model Ms are great fun because they disassemble into a bunch of parts and very well built (except for the rivets).
And lastly, you can't know what mechanical keyboards really can be without using buckling springs for a few hours, at least.
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He's quoting in £, so assuming he's UK based. Which case for an ISO/UK model M it's a fantastic price. Not as many this side of the pond and it drives the price up. Second hand they sell for £50-£90 typically.
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That price sounds very high. For that amount, you should get a clean one that tested properly.
One of my Ms was a 42H..... (not working, cut cord) from Greenock, so I know that they are moving back and forth across the Atlantic.
International Priority Mail flat rate box is $58, so buying locally is the thing to do, if you can.
I would still say that 15 pounds/euros/etc delivered is a good price, even if it ends up being a parts donor. If you have to replace missing keycaps, it is less desirable, but still OK for a starting point.
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Thanks for your input everyone, much appreciated. You've made me less anxious about it.
I'll reveal some more information. I believe it's a Dell Labeled Model M. I couldn't find much other than pictures from googling it. But any of you have any opinions/knowledge or experience with it?
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Just make sure it's the IBM shape case, you'll get people on eBay saying "clicky keyboard" to just about anything.
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Yes, the go for around 50gbp on ebay.
I think you mean £65-75.
This is a steal. Why is the OP even asking questions? :-/
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This is a steal. Why is the OP even asking questions? :-/
To make us miserable and jealous of his good luck?
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To make us miserable and jealous of his good luck?
Jealousy is for fools. It's such a pointless emotion.
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A little update, the seller has shown me some pictures. I just want to run it by you guys before I commit:
(https://photos-1.dropbox.com/i/l/p0_yylNeb8w6GinxCzzhv5LsZ8zkVE4we6knT35c4Qc/5628270/1334343600/29a0153/photo%201.JPG)
(https://photos-2.dropbox.com/i/l/ISS-2HKPpai3eNuymb-5RIWWkILoXnYUhfQ72KZG5aQ/5628270/1334343600/ac759ca/photo%202.JPG)
(https://photos-3.dropbox.com/i/l/hFA0MeOZJXYMkha3M_lgIC0-wUSFqZ8TqG8WWAA6J-o/5628270/1334343600/ef03d8f/photo%203.JPG)
(https://photos-4.dropbox.com/i/l/W28uuKUmuEG79m4iuJ2ISh_RUFOzm3ejQCGxzDSfcgQ/5628270/1334343600/a35f5db/photo%204.JPG)
(https://photos-5.dropbox.com/i/l/yFR5Pqw8BpgnMcyfySAWUISXeAAbJOg0VfLnaOLGZrI/5628270/1334343600/c8f4626/photo%205.JPG)
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Are you going to post the pics?
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Can't see the pics. If there's one with a keycap removed then look for a spring sticking out of a barrel - looks a bit like a jack in the box - that's the model m and it's totally worth it. If it looks like a dell 102w (google...) then don't bother - these aren't as nice, and don't carry their age quite as well.
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Don't bid yet!
Check this out first.
http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide/12440
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What post in particular am I supposed to be looking at?
Can't see the pics.
Eh? I can see them...I'll reupload them somewhere else.
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And here they are:
(http://img1.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/15931/15931696b569f33248acfd282b5eb07ef258e89d.jpg)
(http://img9.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/15931/159316952388a701a76ec0fcebf8629d13c34814.jpg)
(http://img1.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/15931/15931694e452400c16b3a51bb48bc25bfd155880.jpg)
(http://img5.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/15931/15931693001f209831dd7339d90fc45adce46a9c.jpg)
(http://img8.uploadhouse.com/fileuploads/15931/15931692e5aad82fc0ca15bbfed2b4d87b3f5fe9.jpg)
On closer inspection it doesn't look like any Dell Labeled IBM Model M I've ever seen...I'm treading carefully here.
EDIT: Just read your link Hoggy, thanks so much for the warning! This deal is getting worse all the time!
Well I've made my mind up...£15 for a grubby old coffee/tea/pubic hair/deadskin ridden keyboard with black alps in is not worth the money or effort. Time to start dribbling at keyboards I can't afford again!
I do have a few in mind though, so I'll make a new thread soon about it!
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It is a dell at102. Don't buy especialy in that condition.
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It's the post with the two photos from cb_123. I got your links to work by deleting the %20 near the end. The seller has a Dell AT102W. £15 delivered is a fair price for one of those - but a model M would be good deal better.
If you want to start collecting, then buy it. If you think that getting the right keyboard the first time will stop you following this road all the way, then I'd recommend skipping this one.
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...for a grubby old coffee/tea/pubic hair/deadskin ridden keyboard with black alps in is not worth the money or effort. Time to start dribbling at keyboards I can't afford again!
That's probably the best description of my hobby I've read in a long time!
Wait until you see leaves and staples... Someone here has had nails (the metal kind)...
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That's probably the best description of my hobby I've read in a long time!
Wait until you see leaves and staples... Someone here has had nails (the metal kind)...
Wow, I thought that my M stuffed with office clips and staples was weird. It's a miracle that it didn't kill somebody's mobo. Or maybe it did and that's why it was cheap :)